Rams defense hits rock bottom

The Rams had the worst defensive effort of Week 12

The Los Angeles Rams allowed +0.29 EPA per play in Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, by far the worst mark of any defense in Week 12. By allowing 314 rushing yards to the Eagles, which is the worst game of any team this entire season and 145 more rushing yards than the second-worst team in Week 12, the Rams had the second-worst rushing defense EPA per play and the second-worst passing defense EPA per play.

Arguably the worst defensive game of the season by any team was a combined effort of the Eagles running the ball 45 times, including 26/255 for Saquon Barkley, and allowing Jalen Hurts to go 15-of-22 with a touchdown, no turnovers, and only one sack.

Is this a fluke or a troubling sign for Chris Shula’s defense?

Not even the Rams worst game of the season?

The Rams are the only team this season to allow over 300 rushing yards (the second-worst game is 277 rushing yards allowed by the Saints to the Bucs in Week 6) but remarkably this might not be L.A.’s worst defensive effort:

• Week 2, 41-10 loss to Cardinals
• 231 rushing yards (9th-worst game by a defense)
• +0.36 EPA per play allowed (L.A.’s worst game)

In Week 2, the Rams allowed +0.36 EPA per play (that’s the same as saying that the Cardinals averaged about +1 point per every three plays, which is a very good rate) and that’s higher than the +0.29 EPA/play allowed in Week 12.

That’s because Kyler Murray had the 5th-best passing game (by EPA) of any QB in any game in 2024.

It’s a bad sign when your opponent is able to take the foot off of the pass pedal and slam the run foot:

• The Eagles passed the ball 34% of the time (7th-lowest pass rate of any team in 2024)
• The Cardinals passed the ball 35.5% of the time (10th-lowest pass rate in 2024)

These are good offenses with mobile QBs, especially the Eagles because of their offensive line and Barkley, but no defense is going to succeed when they can’t stop the run. Teams are 5-52 this season when their opponent gets to run the ball at least 35 times. Yes, teams run when they have the lead, but how do you beat a team that’s leading?

Stop the run when you know it’s coming.

The Rams knew the Eagles were only going to run the ball in the second half and they still couldn’t stop them. In fact, the Eagles were better in the second half:

• 70-yard TD drive (1 play)
• 70-yard TD drive (8 plays)
• 55-yard FG drive (12 plays)
• 91-yard TD drive (6 plays)

As exciting as L.A.’s defensive front is with Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner, it was evident on Sunday night that the Rams lack speed, dynamism, and IQ in the linebacker and secondary units. When a player like Barkley gets past the defensive line, it’s over, and that could be a significant issue for the Rams over the last six games.

Giving up over 300 rushing yards is always sort of a “fluke” because it’s so rare. But the Rams struggling to stop above-average rushing attacks this season is probably the norm.